Visit IODP at the Smithsonian

Next time you are visiting Washington, DC, be sure to stop by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. There you can explore the wonders of the ocean and the subseafloor in the Sant Ocean Hall, including a large-scale model of IODP’s Chikyu.

Sant Ocean Hall provides an in-depth look at how scientists know what they know about the Earth, including hundreds of marine specimens and models, high-definition video experiences, one-of-a kind exhibits, and new technology. In a portion of the hall called Journey Through Time, the exhibits show how scientific ocean drilling contributes to research about climate change, geodynamic cycles, and the deep biosphere. It includes an illuminating look into how cored samples are culled from below the seafloor and how these samples tell the history of the Earth. The Chikyu model anchors the exhibit, providing a look inside the ship and the exciting, groundbreaking research that happens on-board.

Many interactive components of Sant Ocean Hall get you involved in the action. Take a sneak a peak into the exhibition: